Synopsis
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labeled the display of coffins in Gaza as 'abhorrent and appalling,' emphasizing the need for respect and dignity for deceased hostages. He urged adherence to international humanitarian law and called for continued efforts towards a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.Key Takeaways
- UN Chief condemns the display of hostages' remains.
- The transfer was conducted by Hamas to the ICRC.
- International law mandates respect for deceased individuals.
- Urgent call for a ceasefire and hostage release.
- Humanitarian assistance continues to scale up in Gaza.
United Nations, Feb 21 (NationPress) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned as "abhorrent and appalling" the parading in Gaza of coffins carrying the remains of four hostages during a transfer to Israel.
"We have seen how Hamas handed over the bodies of a mother and two children from the Bibas family, as well as that of an 84-year-old man," stated Stephane Dujarric, Guterres's chief spokesman, on Thursday.
"I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns the parading of bodies and displaying of the coffins of the deceased hostages in the manner seen this (Thursday) morning, which is abhorrent and appalling."
The orchestrated transfer to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) occurred before a gathering of onlookers in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza. The black coffins, covered in white sheets by the ICRC, contained the remains of Shiri Bibas, her two children, Kfir (9 months) and Ariel (4 years), along with Oded Lifshitz, all of whom were killed while being held as hostages, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Dujarric emphasized that under international law, any transfer of the remains of deceased individuals must adhere to the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, thereby ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families.
"The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to the parties to abide by their commitments and continue the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release deal," the spokesman said.
"He urges the parties to the conflict to respect the remains of the dead and to return them to their relatives, consistent with applicable obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law."
Dujarric added that the United Nations has long been advocating for the release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and irreversible progress toward a two-state solution.
In southern Gaza, the spokesman noted that Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration, visited various areas to engage with residents in need of shelter support.
Dujarric mentioned that she was accompanied by Muhannad Hadi, the humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as they met with humanitarian partners of the United Nations and heads of UN agencies to discuss the ongoing response.
"Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the scale-up of humanitarian assistance in Gaza continues," the spokesman stated.
"Since the ceasefire commenced, we and our partners have reached nearly everyone in Gaza with food parcels, with most families receiving more than one month of rations."
He indicated that the United Nations is preparing to support the third polio vaccination campaign across Gaza, which is scheduled to resume on Saturday.
Dujarric reported that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have cautioned that the current conditions in Gaza are conducive to the further spread of the poliovirus, as transmission can occur in crowded shelters and when water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure is compromised.
"Additionally, we and our partners are assisting health facilities across Gaza to restore their services and increase capacity," he noted.
"WHO is providing supplies and equipment, ensuring a three-month stock."
Dujarric mentioned that the Kamal Adwan Hospital has opened an outpatient department in North Gaza.
He reported that the UN Population Fund has distributed nearly 2,400 postpartum kits to all hospitals offering maternity services over the past two weeks.
The spokesman conveyed that in the West Bank, the Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territory has redirected funding this week for ongoing projects to offer cash assistance, rental subsidies, and essential items, including food, to support displaced Palestinian families affected by continued military operations.
